Maya is a 28-year-old neurodivergent (diagnosed ADHD with audio processing disorder, undiagnosed

autism), whose stage IV ‘deep infiltrating’ endometriosis was misdiagnosed for 10+ years.. despite

having multiple surgeries, leaving her with multiple abdominal scars from open and laparoscopic

surgeries. She has since been diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and adenomyosis.

Chronic pain is part of her daily life, using a wheelchair the majority of the time to help manage.

Maya enjoys trying to shake up people’s perceptions of disability; she can goes pretty fast when self-

propelling, has lots of visible tattoos, and just short of 20 piercings; Maya’s middle name is ‘Mynx’,

which she feels represents her well as she can be a bit of a rascal!

Maya has recently been interviewed, alongside presenting video diaries, for BBC Panorama, leading

to an interview with BBC World to help raise awareness for endometriosis. She has also been

interviewed by [the largest UK-based charitable social enterprise] GLL Sport Foundation (‘Better’) for

their Community Stories (under her former name, ‘Kirsty’).

At 19 years old, Maya coached herself to compete in a bodybuilding competition, and won second

place. This further ignited her passion for sport, which led to her enjoying aerial straps and static

trapeze before her health deteriorated. She strives to maintain a strong, muscular physique even as a

wheelchair user, regularly lifts weights, has belonged to teams for wheelchair basketball, para ice-

hockey, and loves to dance! She is currently supported by the GLL Sport Foundation’s Athlete Support

Program.

As well as being enthusiastic about sport, Maya also has a love for music. She is grade 7 on the

clarinet, spent a number of years in orchestras, has performed for the Army at Kneller Hall in 2012,

and played with the Band of the Royal Artillery. She is also self-taught on the alto saxophone,

acoustic guitar, and loves to sing (although whether she is good or not is questionable!)

Maya has previously worked in the NHS as a healthcare assistant in operating theatres (which she

loved and misses!), has been a qualified level 3 Personal Trainer for almost a decade, and briefly

worked as a background artiste as an adolescent.

You will rarely catch Maya without a big smile on her face, as she strives to find moments of beauty

in the everyday, and maintaining a sense of humour is paramount!